He made three great LOTR films. Academy award winning films. Now you'll all want to lynch the guy for giving us more material on the big screen?

We could have had one Hobbit film that rushed Bilbo and Co. to the mountain and back. We could have two films that fit all of the Hobbit but have little time for anything else. Or, we can have three films that flesh out all the characters and extra scenes such as the White Council destroying Dol Guldur and the Battle of Azanulbizar. I don't care if it's about money, because we're being given more material to enjoy.

Maybe i am being a bit conservative with the time...but i dont think theres enough story for a full film...

I like that idea of not compromising and pj taking his time to do it...but i fear even if it reaches the 230 hours or 3 hours , that the character archs and plots wont have the definitive end and conclusion feeling that we get from the trilogy...

Also: you folks all knew that regardless of a third film or not The Hobbit was not going to be like the book AT ALL. Once PJ and Co (along with some of the original actors) signed up to make it they had an obligation to keep The Hobbit in the same world as the Lord of the Rings. The arrival of a third film shows their commitment to this vision and I'm excited they are taking it all the way instead of trying to land halfway in-between. "The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair; and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater."-J.R.R. Tolkien

The studio must like what they've seen. The general audience probably will too. Studios are usually quick to cut their losses when it's not worthwhile.

The theaters might like how, if each movie will now be shorter, they could fit more shows per day than they could otherwise with three-hour films.

Peter Jackson must not be tired of making this movie. He wants more. That suggests there should be a good energy and quality in these films. I appreciate that he is willing to put more of his life into this for us. The commitment means a little less time for his other projects. That gives me faith it is a priority and will be treated well.

The theaters and studios increase their revenues by 33%, more or less, in the theater and the home video market.

He had plenty of original Tolkien material in LOTR to make three films, and he still managed to disappoint me on several occasions.

And now he wants to make three films out of of a book barely needs one?

What part of that am I supposed to trust?

And as for having a negative opinion before I have facts, the people raving about what a fabulous idea this is have no more facts than I do. If their opinions are valid and acceptable, then so are mine.

It is always those with the fewest sensible things to say who make the loudest noise in saying them. --Precious Ramotswe (Alexander McCall Smith)

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.

Is it possible that WB wants shorter movies (more profit?) and does not allow PJ to make 3 hour-movies and that this was the alternative not to lose any material? It would seem extremely sad, silly and cynical if that is the real reason.